Container conveyer and distributor



cv N. .BERGMANN Ami] 25, 1939.

' CONTAINER CONVEYER AND DISTRIBUTOR .Filed Feb. 16, 1937 2 Sheets-Sheet l A ril 25, 1939. c. N BERGMANN CONTAINER CONVEYER AND DISTRIBUTOR Filed Feb. 16, 1937 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

Patented Apr. 25, I939 UNITED STATES CONTAINER CONVEYER AND DISTRIBUTOR Christian N. Bergmann, Pittsburgh, Pa., assignor of two-sixths Pa.

Application February 16, 1937,

11 Claims.

My invention is an improvement in distributing conveyers for containers such as bottles. cans, or the like. It is particularly adapted to the art of conveying cylindrical units, as milk bottles, from two sources or stations, to a single station or delivery destination, by merging two rows or columns into one.

Generally stated, it comprises two laterallydisposed or side by side feeding conveyers or track- 10 ways leading to the receiving terminal or any portion of an intervening delivery conveyer, and controlling means for selectively delivering the approaching terminal unit of the approaching rows or columns and delivering such unit individually and alternately to the single delivery or carry ofi conveyer.

The active element of the selecting or distributive controlling means consists of a rotatively driven double or single spiral member composed of a pair of right and left hand sections operating alongside the two approaching columns of units to deliver front units thereof alternately to the intervening delivery conveyer, as controlled thereby. The right and left hand sections of the spiral member are so constructed as to locate their terminal flights for such final alternating delivery of units, in such arrangement.

Alternatively, by utilizing a single conveyer extending between two side-by-side advancing columns of units, it operates to deliver the endmost unit of each column of such pair alternately to the intervening conveyer, running in the same direction.

The present invention is somewhat generally similar in its construction, operation, objects. and functions to that of my Patent No. 2,108,522 for Container conveyer and distributor.

Certain preferred constructions and embodiments of the invention are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a plan viewshowing a pair of oppositely approaching feeding conveyers and an intervening delivery conveyer, and c-operating controlling and directing means;

Fig. 2 is a cross section on the line IIII of Fig. l;

Fig. 3 is a detail view showing a modified construction of a resiliently mounted guard rail;

Fig. 4 is a plan view showing one construction or arrangement for driving the oppositely approaching conveyers of Fig. 1 from the tail shaft of the delivery conveyer;

Fig. 5 is a sectional elevation of Fig. 1 on the line V-V thereof.

to Charles M. Clarke,

oppositely approaching.

Se'wickley,

Serial No. 126,004 (Cl- 19832) I show in Fig 1 a plan view of one arrangement in which feeding conveyer trackways A and 13 approach in opposite directions towards the receiving terminal portion of an intervening delivery conveyer C from opposite sides and at substantially right angles thereto. In either case the conveying means of each is conventional and of well known construction, utilizing supporting and conveying belts or chains having base supporting slats or links 2, 3 and 4 respectively.

These are mounted in usual endless chain sec tions upon head and tail sprockets or the like, with driving and idler shafting, as will be readily understood, and geared for suitable speeds.

Ordinarily, the speed of the delivering or careasy and regular distribution. However the relative speeds may be varied or ad justed to the working conditions of the supply sources and receiving terminal to which the individual conveyers may be applied.

Conveyers A and B are defined by the'conveyer links or strands 2 and 3 and conveyer C by links or strands 4 in connection with flanking guides 5 and 5a with intervening angle sections along and-around which the units a and b pass alternately from conveyers A andB to the single width capacity of conveyer C, for travel of the units thereto. Thus the inner guides 5 merge into the pair of straight guides 5a through the entrance throat to conveyer C thus provided.

Outer guides 5 terminate as shown just beyond the engaging end portions of the co-operating controlling and directing means in the form of spiral members 8, for ensuring alternating delivery of units to conveyer C.

Ordinarily two such converging columns of units willnot accurately and continuously merge into a single column without some controlling factor regulating their progress, time, and order of merger without jamming or interference,

In my present improvement I provide for such orderly distribution by replacing otherwise con tinuous sections of outer guides 5 by the spiral; members 8. These are adapted to receive and engage the oncoming units a and b between them and the opposite'or inner guides 5, and by their flight engagement, partial retardation, and final delivery, to discharge them alternately onto the conveyer C. As shown, each spiral member 8 is located just above the general supporting level 9 of conveyers A and B, both rotatable in the same direction on their shaft extensions 10, in

' zontal travel the general frameare rotated in the same direction, by the arrows, by suitable gearing as sprockets li--i2 and chain l3, or otherwise, at suitable speeds, from any source of power.

Each such member 8 is provided with a continuous spiral thread or vane ous corresponding conforming generally to the curved contour of The spiral vane of direction opposite to the other for regulating and finally imparting opposite and inward feeding movement to the units of both columns, with alternating delivery.

In each member 8 the spiral vane i5 terminates at both ends, and especially at the inner ends, at about 180 or substantially midway of the rev.- olution, of the other, as indicated at H, and such arrangement contributes materially to their successful operation, in delivering the units alternately to the middle conveyer.

The supporting base portion of the equipment may be of any suitable design approved by good practice, either with or without flooring plates for the chains throughout, 1 except where bridging sections i1 are utilized at the angular junctions between conveyers A, B, and conveyer C. At such points the bridging sections provide smooth surfaces very slightly below the surfaces of the conveyer chain flights and facilitate the passage thereover of the several units.

The tail sprocket iii of conveyer C is mounted by its shaft l9, and the head sprockets 20 of conveyers A and B by their shafts 2i, in a suitable frame 22, as in Figs. 4 and 5.

Shaft i9 is operatively conne ted with shafts 2! by suitable gearing, as bevels 23, 24, properly proportioned to transmit motion to conveyers A and B from conveyer C at desired relative speeds. Under normal conditions, with approaching loads on conveyers A and B equalling the receiving capacity of conveyer C, the speed of travel of conveyer C should be approximately twice that of conveyers A and B, as indicated by the one to two pitch diameter ratio of gears 23, 2!.

However, under other conditions, of delayed supply, or irregularly spaced apart continuity of units on conveyers A and B, they may be operated at a relatively faster speed by modifying the gear ratio, dependent on operating conditions.

In the construction shown the conveyer flights 2, 3 and l are maintained in their desired horiby supporting flanges 25.

I show in Fig. 3 a modification of the inner guide bar equipment in which a separate extension 5b is resiliently mounted as by springs 26 and studs 21 engaging resisting and limiting abutments 28. Such mounting provides against undue strains or breakage of the units due to possible jammingor congestion, as in case of an upset bottle, in passage of the units between spiral member 8 and the guide rail. I

In operation, assuming two advancing columns of units a and b, the front one of either, in passing beyond the oppositely spaced guide bars 5, will be engaged by the confronting edge of the adjacent terminal H of spiral vane i5. Thereafter, as the column advances, each next adjacent unit is successively engaged and maintained centrally in its path, bearing with slight clearance against the concave spiral face I8 at one side and against the guide bar 5 at the other side of conveyer A and B, or of either.

work.

' larly effected as because- Ordinarily such engagement by spiral member 8 tends to slightly retard the inward travel of the engaged units, until the foremost one thereof passes from the underrunning flights 2 and 3, or either, onto the stationary At such time the inner end portion opposite edge itself becomes the moving element and forcibly ejects the. unit across the bridge, assisted by pushing action of the next adjacent oncoming unit, as. in the case of small diameter units. onto the carry-off conveyer C.

The spiral member 8 thus acts as a control means for the feed of units to the middle or carry-off conveyer C, by alternately delivering a single unit thereto, one from each side.

It acts to regulate the delivery at any desired speed, and the speed of rotation of spiral members 8 is independent of the speed of conveyers A and B.

By the above described construction, the feeding conveyers approach the carry-oil conveyer from opposite sides, as in Fig. l and with double side control of either or both approaching column or columns, with resulting regular selection and delivery control of individual units passing to the faster moving conveyer C.

The. operation as to carrying the load or loads of either or both supply conveyers by an intervening faster speed delivery conveyer, is successonto the common delivery conveyer is easily and reguby the relatively slow and fast speeds, controlled and assisted by the co-operating spiral members 8; by the open throat of the receiving conveyer; the lateral guide bars ensurofvane l5 by its ing continuous-contact with the conveyer flights,

and the propelling action on the units of the terminal vane of either spiral member in assisting their movement over the bridge.

- I claim: Y

1. In combination, a delivery conveyer, a pair of relatively slower feeding conveyers leading thereto, and' rotatable unit-movement-controlling spiral conveyers each located adjacent to the junction of said conveyers and each in operative relation to one of the feeding conveyers.

2. In combination, a delivery conv'eyer, a pair of relatively slower to, a pair of rotatable unit-movement-controlling spiral conveyers located adjacent to the junction of said conveyers and in operative relation to the feeding conveyers, and meansefiectveyers.

3. In combination, of relatively thereto, guides for said feeding conveyers directing units from thefeeding conveyers towards the delivery conveyer, guides for the delivery conveyer having diverging connection with adjacent feeding conveyer guides. a pair of rotatable unita delivery conveyer, a pair movement-controlling spiral conveyers located,

slower feeding conveyers leading feeding conveyers leading thereing simultaneous rotation of said spiral conand in operative relation to the feeding conveyers, and means effecting rotation of said spiral conveyers.

5. In combination, a delivery conveyer of sufflcient speed and capacity to receive and transfer the discharge thereto of contributing conveyers, a pair of contributing conveyers leading thereto at opposite sides, unit supporting bridge members between the contributing conveyers and thethereto at opposite sides, unit supporting bridge members between the contributing conveyers and the delivery conveyer, flanking guide members for said conveyers disposed at their junction for reception of laterally directed conveyed units from,

the contributing conveyers to the delivery conveyer. a pair of rotatable unit-movement-controlling spiral conveyers located adjacent to the junction of said conveyers and inoperative relation to the contributing conveyers, and gearing connected with the spiral conveyers for simultaneous operation for engagement of a conveyed unit of a contributing conveyer.

7. In combination, a single line delivery conveyer of suflicient speed and capacity to receive and transfer the double line discharge thereto of contributing conveyers, a pair of contributing conveyers leading thereto from opposite sides, a pair of rotatable unit-movement-controlling spiral conveyers located adjacent to the junction of said conveyers and in operative relation to the contributing conveyers, and gearing engaging the spiral conveyers for simultaneous operation when in engagement with a conveyed unit of a contributing conveyer.

8. In combination with two independent conveyers adapted to deliver cylindrical units alternately to an intervening carry-off conveyer, guides therefora pair of rotatable unit-move ment-controlling' spiral conveyers each having equally spaced concave faces approximating unit contour curvature between adjacent spiral vanes traversible partway across said two conveyers into the paths of articles carried thereby for en- 55 gagement of an advancing unit at either side 01' the carry off conveyer, and means effecting rotation of said spiral conveyers.

9. A container conveyer and distributor for bottles or the like comprising a pair of side conveyers adapted to receive the bottles and upon which they travel in single rows, a single'inter-' vening delivery conveyer operating at a faster speed than said pair, guides for said conveyers including deflected sections at the junction between the pair and said single conveyer, a pair of rotatable unit-movement-controlling a spiral conveyers each located in the path of bottles being moved along thepair of conveyers, the spiral edges of said conveyers being arranged for individual alternating engagement by and between the adjacent units of each row thereof, and means connected with said spiral conveyers causing them to operate in unison and distribute the bottles alternately and automatically into a single row travelling on the delivery conveyer.

10. A container conveyer and distributor for bottles 'or the like comprising a pair of side conveyers adapted to receive the bottles and upon which they travel in single rows, a single intervening delivery conveyer operating at a faster speed than said pair, supporting flooring bridge portions over which the bottles pass at the connecting junction between the pair and single conveyer, guides for said conveyers including deflected sections at the junction between the pair and single conveyer, a pair of rotatable unitmovement-controlling spiral conveyers each located in the path of bottles being moved along the path of the side conveyers, the spiral edges of said spiral conveyers being arranged for individual alternating engagement by and between the adjacent units of each row thereof, and means connected with said spiral conveyers causing them to operate in unison and distribute the bottles alternately and automatically into a single row travelling on the delivery conveyer.

11. In combination, a pair of feeding conveyers arranged-at opposite sides of an intervening delivery conveyer, said delivery conveyer having its receiving end portion extending between and beyond the delivery end portions of said feeding conveyers, a pair of rotatable unit-movementcontrolling spiral conveyers each mounted at one side of one feeding conveyer and having spiral edges extending partway across the path of said feeding conveyers for engagement of units moved thereby, and cooperating guides providing for reception on and by the delivery conveyer of units delivered from the feeding conveyers.

CHRISTIAN N. BERGMANN. 

